Mexico looks really strong. They move the ball so well, I do not understand how we do so well against them. And I do wish we were playing as many friendlies as the Mexicans. They are taking this World Cup thing very seriously.

All credit to England here, getting fairly well outplayed yet leading 2-0 as halftime approaches.

the itv commentator when looking back at a replay of Crouch's goal, saying "there were two issues here: he looks to be offside when Rooney shot initially, and he indeed did knock the ball in with his arm. but, other than that, it was a perfectly legitimate goal."

that's some excellent friendly commentary.

Franco makes it 2-1, as Rafa Marquez gets a free header off a corner, and Franco knocks in the rebound. Hopefully more goals for Mexico in the second half to give England something to get worried and upset about as they continue their preparations for Group C.

@ soccerman -no disrespect to Crouch but all of our defenders have size and are pretty good in the air. Mexico just fell asleep on those set plays, I mean Crouch and King were open on the first goal and Rooney was WIDE open on the second attempt that should not have stood.

@ kosh2 - and I'm not trying to hype up Crouch, he is largely one dimensional. Our defense has been known to drift off occasionally (read Bornstein) so we'll need somebody with size & strength to neutralize that one dimension.

Mexico has reverted to form here again. Capello adjusted and their dominance in the mid-field has been squashed. That was atrocious defending on goal number 3, they just let Johnson walk the ball in - to which Clark says, "yeah, I would have cut him in half 30 yards away".

Mexico's attack is so slow, they are allowing England to get back and set because they are not going at them with speed on the counter.

I am So pissed at Harry Redknapp. Without his players, this England side would be the same stilted, selfish, and boring squad it always is, capable of being beaten on a bad day. But Redknapp's boys come in, and they have chemistry and energy, and their heads aren't shoved up their @#%%'s. This is going to be a tough match.

I'm so excited about the world cup that I watched highlights of Australia-New Zealand. Check out the Aussies' incredibly dirty tackling, along with their coach's postgame reprimand of his players: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7C9z5xRjjY

I hope the refs get talked to today. There should have been a penalty for Mexico when Guillermo Franco was about to take a shot & his jersey was CLEARLY pulled by either Glen Johnson or Ledley King (I can't remember which). The second goal by Crouch was both a hand ball & offsides & again the refs didn't call it.

Both teams looked really good, but the refs are not at the World Cup level.